What Is Salad dressing, italian and How Can I Use It?
Salad dressing, italian rewards a little know-how: how to choose it, cook it, store it, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 96 recipes to cook with it.
Key Points
- Tangy oil-and-vinegar vinaigrette seasoned with garlic, onion, and dried herbs.
- Doubles as a fast marinade; the vinegar tenderizes while herbs flavor the meat.
- The base of cold pasta salads, which drink up dressing as they chill.
- Dress green salads at the last second so the vinegar does not wilt them.
- Build your own at 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar plus herbs.
What is salad dressing, italian?
Italian dressing is a tangy vinaigrette built on oil and vinegar, seasoned with garlic and onion plus dried herbs like oregano. The American bottled version is the one most people picture: sharp, herby, a little sweet, and emulsified just enough to cling to lettuce.
It is thinner and zippier than creamy dressings, which makes it as useful for marinating as for salads.
The dry-mix packets are the same idea in powder form. You add your own oil and vinegar, which gives you control over freshness and how acidic it ends up.
How to Use It
The obvious job is dressing greens, but Italian dressing earns its keep as a fast marinade. The vinegar tenderizes while the herbs season, so chicken or pork picks up flavor in 30 minutes to a couple of hours. Mediterranean-Style Beef Stir Fry leans on it exactly this way.
It is the backbone of cold pasta salads. Amazing Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad and Mary Poulin's Pasta Salad both pour it over noodles and vegetables, where it soaks in as everything chills.
Nutty Coleslaw uses it to cut the richness of a slaw without reaching for mayo. A splash also wakes up sub sandwiches, soaking into the bread.
Cooking and Pairing
It pairs naturally with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, red onion, and crisp romaine. On pasta salad it loves rotini, bell peppers, and salami. As a marinade it suits grilled vegetables and lean proteins that benefit from a little acid.
The classic mistake is dressing a salad too early. Vinegar wilts tender greens fast, so toss right before serving rather than minutes ahead, or you end up with a soggy bowl.
With pasta salad it is the opposite problem. Cold noodles drink up dressing as they sit, so a salad that looked perfectly coated at lunch turns dry by dinner. Dress it generously, hold a little back, then refresh with a splash before serving.
Substitutes
You can build it from scratch in a jar: 3 parts olive oil to 1 part red wine vinegar, plus garlic, dried oregano, sugar, salt, and pepper. Shake hard to emulsify. That ratio is the standard vinaigrette base, dialed toward tang.
A dry Italian seasoning mix whisked into your own oil and vinegar is the closest shortcut, and often tastes fresher than the bottle. Plain red wine vinaigrette works too, just add a little dried oregano and garlic.
Greek dressing is a near cousin and swaps in cleanly, bringing more lemon and olive character.
Buying and Storage
Each form has a place. The bottle is convenient, the packet lets you control the oil, and homemade is cheapest and freshest. If you marinate often, the packet is the best value.
An unopened bottle keeps in the pantry for a year or more. Once opened, refrigerate it and use within about two to three months. Oil-based dressings separate, which is normal, so just shake before each use.
Homemade dressing keeps about two weeks in the fridge. If you used fresh garlic, lean toward the shorter end. The oil may cloud or solidify when chilled; let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes and it pours clear again.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 tbsp (14g)Quick facts
Where to find salad dressing, italian: Salad dressing, italian is usually found in the condiments section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
Food group: Salad dressing, italian is a member of the Fats and Oils US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.
- In Chinese
- 沙拉酱，意大利
- British (UK) term
- Salad dressing, italian
- en français
- Vinaigrette italienne
- en español
- Aderezo italiano
How much does salad dressing, italian weigh?
| Amount | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | 14 grams |
| 1 cup | 235 grams |
Related
Fats and Oils
Recipes using salad dressing, italian
There are 96 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Joegie Sub Sandwich
Capocollo, salami, and provolone stack on a crusty Italian sub roll with crisp lettuce, fresh tomatoes, hot peppers, and a drizzle of Italian dressing for a classic deli-style sandwich in 10 minutes.
Southwestern Rice & Bean Salad
Colorful Southwestern rice and bean salad with kidney beans, corn, and picante dressing. Vegetarian, low-fat make-ahead perfect for potlucks.
Tex-Mex Salad
A hearty salad that's suitable as a main dish. Lots of flavors and textures throughout.
Tortellini with Artichokes, Olives & Feta Cheese
A quick and easy, filling Mediterranean-inspired Italian tortellini salad. This easy pasta salad can be made a day in advance.
Cheddar Spaghetti Vegetable Salad
A scrumptious spaghetti salad made with juicy tomatoes, cheddar cheese and italian salad dressing.
Nutty Coleslaw
Celery and peanuts not only added some nice crunch, but also gave the salad some delicious tang and nuttiness. Very easy to prepare, for the best result, put it in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight to allow the flavor to combine. Tasty and refreshing!
Mary Poulin's Pasta Salad
A very different twist on tradional pasta/macaroni salad. Loaded with ingredients, this could be a meal in itself.
Amazing Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad
Quick, easy and refreshing. This delicious salad can also be served as a main course.
Blackened Chicken with Caesar Salad
This Cajun blackened chicken caesar salad was absolutely delicious. The chicken was super moist and packed with flavor. We used lettuce for the salad, and it was tasty and refreshing, perfectly balanced with chicken. Serve it with a few slices of bread, or some croutons to make a complete meal.
Klein's Kanchi Chicken
Slow cooker chicken breasts with Italian dressing and onion soup mix. Just 5 ingredients, no prep beyond dumping, and the crockpot does the rest over 8 to 10 hours.
Fresh Vegetable Turkey Salad
Fresh vegetable turkey salad: marinated cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, zucchini, olives, and peppers over crisp greens, topped with turkey strips and cheddar. High-protein, low-carb.
Gabrielle Carteris's Chicken Nest with Tomatoes Beans & R
Layered chicken nest platter with breaded chicken cutlets, sun-dried tomato rice, beans, and steamed asparagus, peppers, and snow peas over lettuce. A colorful all-in-one dinner.
San Antonio Spinach Salad
Tex-Mex spinach salad with black beans, bacon, mushrooms, and red pepper in a spicy picante-cumin dressing. A no-cook salad with bold San Antonio flavor.
Hot & Cold Salad Sampler
Hot and cold salad platter with crispy roasted potato wedges, sliced roast beef, tomato, cucumber, red onion, and artichoke hearts. Served with a creamy Italian sour cream dip.
Chicken & Mushroom Casserole
Discover this easy chicken and mushroom casserole recipe with white wine marinade and creamy gravy, perfect for beginner cooks seeking simple baked chicken dinners for family meals or meal prep ideas with mushrooms.
Warm Fajita Rice Salad
Warm fajita rice salad with lime-marinated sirloin, corn, black olives, cherry tomatoes, and a zesty picante dressing. Tex-Mex meets rice bowl in one bold platter.
Tuscan Pork Chops
Grilled pork chops marinated in Italian dressing, white wine, and sage for a simple Tuscan-inspired dinner. Five ingredients, big flavor, and a buttery pan sauce that takes minutes to make.
Cheesy Broccoli, Bean, & Cherry Tomato Salad
Very easy to make marinated broccoli salad that is easy to mix and match as your tastes dictate.
Hot Black Bean Salad with Corn & Avocado
A scrumptious salad made with black beans, corn and jalapeno peppers that's perfect for the winter.
Martha's Pasta Salad
Cold spaghetti pasta salad tossed with diced cucumber, red bell pepper, fresh tomatoes, tomato sauce, and bottled Italian dressing. A potluck classic that travels well and tastes better the second day.
Chicken Regency Salad
Chicken Regency salad with artichoke hearts, water chestnuts, green olives, and butter-toasted pecans in Italian dressing. Marinated overnight for deep flavor, served cold on lettuce.
Quick-Fix Steak & Lemon-Pepper Potatoes
Add some spices to your steak and potatoes with this quick and easy recipe you'll love!
Easy Antipasto Chicken
Chicken is coated with Italian dressing, then baked with assorted vegetables. It's an easy and tasty dish that's also good for you.
French Country Potato Salad with Turkey
French country potato salad with turkey strips, green beans, and fresh herbs, drizzled with Italian dressing. A warm, lighter take on potato salad.
Italian Bbq Chicken
Italian BBQ chicken mixes barbecue sauce with Italian dressing for a tangy-sweet basting glaze. Three ingredients, low-and-slow grilling, summer cookout staple.
Favorite Bbq Chicken
Smoked BBQ chicken marinated overnight in Italian dressing, rubbed with spice, then smoked low and slow with hourly lemon mopping and a barbecue sauce glaze. Juicy, smoky chicken for the grill or smoker.
Easy Peachy Beef Toss
Beef and peach salad tossed with romaine, avocado, and a sweet BBQ-Italian dressing. A no-cook main dish that uses leftover roast beef and canned peaches.
Gulf Shrimp & Vegetables
Marinated Gulf shrimp and vegetable salad with olives, green pepper, celery, sweet pickles, and Italian dressing. Chilled overnight and served cold on a bed of lettuce.
Bitter Greens Salad
Bitter greens salad with radicchio, peppery arugula, and chicory tossed with Italian dressing. A bracing four-ingredient side that cuts through rich pasta or roasted meats.
Quick Picante Salad Toss
If you like spicy food, you will adore this scrumptious salad made with italian salad dressing and picante sauce.
Variations for Italian Dressing
Italian dressing variations: customize a base Italian vinaigrette with anchovies, bacon, Parmesan, tomato puree or red wine to create five distinct dressings from one starting point.
Pineapple Burgers
Bacon-wrapped pineapple burgers grilled with a sweet barbecue, brown sugar, and honey glaze. Pineapple rings pressed right into the patties before grilling.
Vegetable Beef Rolls
Vegetable beef rolls stuffed with shredded carrot, celery, and green pepper, wrapped in bacon and grilled with Italian dressing marinade. Old-school cookout main with built-in side veggies.
Italian Steak
Italian dressing-marinated grilled sirloin steak. Two-ingredient backyard BBQ classic with bright herby flavor from a 24-hour marinade.
Ginger Shrimp
Broiled ginger shrimp marinated in pureed fresh ginger, shallots, dry sherry, and Italian dressing. Three hours of marinating builds bold, aromatic flavor that caramelizes under the broiler.
Cucumber Black Bean Gazpacho
Chunky cold gazpacho with black beans, ham, fresh tomatoes, cucumber, and spicy vegetable juice. Hearty chilled Mexican soup perfect for summer meals and meal prep.
Beef Kabobs Over Lemon Rice
Grilled sirloin tip kabobs with zucchini, yellow squash, red pepper, and onion marinated in Italian dressing. Served over bright lemon-parsley rice for a colorful dinner for two.
Salad with Picante Dressing
Sirloin steak salad with rice, corn, black olives, cherry tomatoes, and a spicy picante-lime dressing. A Tex-Mex main dish salad with serious substance.
Maude's Green Salad
Five-green salad with iceberg, Boston lettuce, romaine, chicory, and spinach, each dressed separately in Italian dressing and arranged in strips with Parmesan.
Family Style Calzone
Family-sized calzone made with store-bought pizza dough filled with Italian deli meats, mozzarella, Parmesan, and Italian dressing. One big fold-over that feeds four in 30 minutes.
Hairball Salad with Saliva Dressing
Halloween hairball salad: walnut-sized balls of mashed avocado and alfalfa sprouts rolled up and perched on grated carrots, finished with Italian dressing. Kid-friendly ghoulish fun.
Cauliflower Italiano
Cauliflower Italiano is a fast skillet side with florets steam-braised in Italian dressing, onion, garlic, green pepper, and cherry tomatoes. Ready in 30 minutes, five-ingredient weeknight easy.
Quick Microwave Italian Potato Salad
Quick microwave Italian potato salad with new red potatoes, olives, bell peppers, and fresh tomatoes tossed in zesty Italian dressing. Ready in 25 minutes with no stove required.
Fajitas-On-A-Stick
Fajitas-on-a-stick turn beef fajitas into grilled skewers: sirloin marinated in Italian dressing and lime, woven onto sticks and grilled with peppers and onion, then tucked into tortillas with all the fixings. A fun cookout twist.
Southern Skillet Bbq Pork
Skillet BBQ pork chops marinated in Italian dressing, barbecue sauce, and chili powder. Just 4 ingredients and ready in about an hour with minimal hands-on time.
Sandwiches Glace
Sandwiches glace: vintage party canape with rye bread, smoked ham, sour cream cheddar spread, and a gelatin-mayonnaise glaze. A mid-century tea-party classic.
Marinated Shrimp Kabobs
Marinated shrimp kabobs with picante sauce and Italian dressing, threaded with broccoli florets and cherry tomatoes. A make-ahead cocktail appetizer with three-color visual punch.
Italian Salad Pizza
Italian salad pizza on a prebaked crust with melted mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, and a cool romaine-watercress-olive topping tossed in Italian dressing. Vegetarian dinner ready in about 20 minutes.
MED Marinade
A simple and tasty marinade made of italian salad dressing, cider vinegar and lemon juice.
More salad dressing, italian recipes
- Artichoke Hearts Augratin
- Balsamic Flank Steak
- Beef Kabobs Over Lemon Rice
- Cauliflower Italiano
- Chicken Curry Rice Salad
- Favorite Bbq Chicken
- Italian Cucumber & Radish Salad
- Italian Rice Salad
- Italian Steak
- Marinated Shrimp Kabobs
- Marinated Vegetable Toss
- MED Marinade
- Pineapple Burgers
- Sandwiches Glace
- Southern Skillet Bbq Pork
- Spinach & Tortellini Salad
- Variations for Italian Dressing
- Vegetable Beef Rolls
